Payment Plans & Exemptions

Payment Plans

If you are experiencing financial challenges, take advantage of our payment plan option available to licensed legal professionals. This option allows you to pay your license fee in up to five monthly installments with the balance required to be paid in full by Feb. 3, 2020.

Mandatory: You will receive annual licensing materials in November. All licensing requirements, including payment, must be completed by Feb. 3, 2020. A late fee will be assessed Feb. 4. Failure to comply with licensing requirements may result in a Washington Supreme Court order of suspension (Washington Supreme Court Admission and Practice Rule 17).

Hardship Exemption

In case of proven extreme financial hardship, which must entail a current annual household income equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty level as determined based on the member’s household income for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the member is seeking to be exempted from license fees, the WSBA executive director may grant a one-time exemption from payment of annual license fees and assessments by any active member. Hardship exemptions are for one licensing period only, and a request must be submitted on or before Feb. 1 of the year for which the exemption is requested. Denial of an exemption request is not appealable.

Supporting documentation may be requested. To request an exemption for the 2020 license year, the License Fee Hardship Exemption Request Form must be postmarked or received on or before Feb. 3, 2020. If your request is denied and payment is not made online or postmarked or received by Feb. 3, 2020, a 30% late fee will be assessed. You will only be denied if you do not meet the criteria outlined in the bylaw. For 2019 federal poverty guidelines, visit the Health & Human Services webpage or download the License Fee Hardship Exemption Request Form.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Christensen at 206-727-8243 or amyc@wsba.org.

Armed Forces Exemption

WSBA Bylaw Section III.I.1.a.2 provides for a fee exemption for eligible members of the Armed Forces whose WSBA license is active.

An active member of the Bar who is activated from reserve duty status to full-time active duty in the armed forces of the United States for more than 60 days in any calendar year, or who is deployed or stationed outside the U.S. for any period of time for full-time active military duty in the U.S. armed forces will be exempt from the payment of license fees and assessments for the Client Protection Fund upon submitting to the WSBA executive director satisfactory proof that he or she is so activated, deployed or stationed. All requests for exemption must be postmarked or delivered to the Bar’s offices on or before Feb. 1 of the year for which the exemption is requested. Eligible members must apply every year they wish to claim the exemption. Each exemption applies for only the calendar year in which it is granted, and exemptions may be granted for a maximum total of five years for any member. Granting or denying an exemption under this provision is within the sole discretion of the Executive Director and is not appealable.

Please submit a copy of your orders and a recent LES by email to amyc@wsba.org, fax or mail. Upon review and acceptance you will be sent a notification of approval granting the Armed Forces Exemption.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Christensen at 206-727-8243 or amyc@wsba.org.